Blue States Refuse to Participate in the Great American State Fair

At a time when this country could desperately use an opportunity to bridge the gap between the political parties, one side has decided to emphasize the rancor and the divide. The Democrats have decided once again to demonstrate a sad level of Trump Derangement Syndrome and have pushed the lie that Freedom 250 and the Great American State Fair are partisan.

At least ten states are boycotting the Fair: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Pennsylvania. The excuses vary from state to state. Some say that it will be partisan—although no one has explained in what way partisanship will be shown. Others say it is too expensive—the price tag is $100,000—but there would be nothing stopping them from asking citizens if they’d like to contribute to a fund, or even ask corporations or tourist bureaus to help out. Some said they were keeping celebrations local. If they were honest, they’d say they were not participating in order to embarrass Donald Trump. They appear to have no interest in recognizing their own citizens, their relationships to all the other states and their pride in America. At least Sen. John Fetterman and Sen. Dave McCormick joined together to manage their Pennsylvania pavilion when Gov. Josh Shapiro backed out:

According to a statement from McCormick’s office, the partnership includes organizations such as the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Business. ‘Pennsylvania is where America’s story began, and there was no way we were going to let the Commonwealth go unrepresented during our Nation’s 250th birthday celebration,’ McCormick said in a statement released on his website, while Fetterman described the effort as a ‘bipartisan’ push to ensure the state’s history and industries are showcased.

Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner repeatedly reassured all 50 states of the importance and bipartisan nature of this event:

‘All 50 governors—Republican and Democrat alike were invited to participate and appointed a point person to organize for their state. Freedom 250 event’s mission is to unite all Americans—across party lines—in celebration of the nation’s 250^th birthday,’ Reisner said. ‘For a few states, cost was a concern, and it’s why many partnered with a number of organizations with deep roots to their state, ranging from tourism bureaus to companies large and small.’

Some participants demonstrated the pride they held for their states through their statements and pavilion offerings:

‘While details on Texas’ pavilion and exhibits are still being finalized, visitors can expect a dynamic showcase highlighting why Texas is both a premier travel destination and a national leader in opportunity, innovation, and freedom,’ [Andrew] Mahaleris said in a statement. ‘Texas is proud to showcase what makes our state exceptional, world-class industries, rich culture, booming economy, unmatched energy production, agricultural strength, and the unbreakable spirit of the Lone Star State,’ the statement added. [snip] Amy Edmonds, a spokesperson for the governor's office, said that Wyoming's pavilion will feature ‘agriculture education, Western lifestyle demonstrations, virtual reality experiences, storytelling, and hands-on activations that reflect the people, places, and values that define Wyoming.’ ‘Our pavilion is a celebration of the history, grit, and authenticity that define Wyoming. It is an opportunity to share not only where we come from, but our way of life, and we invite the world to come experience the Wyoming way,’ said Courtny Hinds, general manager of the Wyoming State Fair and Wyoming’s state pavilion lead.

The Great American State Fair is a reminder of the proud history we have of this country, how we’ve emerged from difficult times united, and what it means to be a United States citizen.

All of the participants make me proud to be an American.

[In comment #26, I attempted to provide a more balanced version of the first half. I decided to leave the original here intact.]